A Boost for the Unsung Heroes: DepEd Raises Private School Teachers’ Subsidy in Powerful Push for Education Equity

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

MAKATI CITY, 02 August 2025 — In a decisive and symbolic step that echoes the core promise of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Department of Education (DepEd) has rolled out a substantial increase in the annual Teachers’ Salary Subsidy (TSS) for private school teachers. It’s not just a budget adjustment—it’s a long-overdue recognition of those who have remained steadfast in nurturing the Filipino youth amid limited support and unequal footing.

From a modest ₱18,000, the subsidy will leap to ₱24,000 per teacher annually starting School Year 2025–2026, a 33% increase that’s not just numerical, but deeply symbolic. The State Assistance Council (SAC), which governs the Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) program, approved the hike ad referendum—underscoring its urgency and necessity.

This isn’t merely a funding decision. It is a bold declaration that private school educators are no longer invisible in the broader national conversation on education.

Bridging the Divide: Equity for All Educators

At the ceremonial signing held Thursday, Education Secretary Sonny Angara did not mince words. He acknowledged what has been painfully obvious for years: the disparity between public and private school teachers remains stark, especially in terms of pay and recognition.

“Malaki pa rin ang agwat ng kalagayan ng ating mga guro sa pribado kumpara sa pampublikong paaralan. But today, we are taking a decisive step to narrow that gap,” Angara stated passionately.

And narrow the gap it must—because while public school teachers have received periodic salary adjustments, their private counterparts—many of whom teach equally challenging classes with fewer resources—have long been waiting for justice in their paychecks.

An Echo of the President’s SONA Promise

President Marcos Jr., in his SONA, made it clear: education is no longer a background issue. It is front and center. From calls for a tech-savvy educational framework to lighter bureaucratic burdens on teachers, the SONA was a blueprint of reform—and now, the DepEd is beginning to deliver.

“Nasa rurok ng kanyang mga prayoridad ang edukasyon,” Angara affirmed. “We have always stood by the principle that education is a collective mission.”

That collective mission is one where every teacher, whether in a government-run school or a privately managed classroom, plays a vital part. And now, through this subsidy increase, the government recognizes that contribution—not just in words, but in action.

Who Benefits and Why It Matters

The Teachers’ Salary Subsidy is a vital component of the GASTPE Program, established under Republic Act No. 8545. Through its Education Service Contracting (ESC) scheme, the program empowers private schools to accommodate more students—particularly from low-income families—without overburdening public schools.

To qualify for the TSS, a teacher must:

Be a licensed professional educator,

Be employed full-time by a DepEd-recognized private school, and

Teach ESC grantees at least three hours per week.

These qualifications ensure the funds reach those who are truly in the trenches, shaping young minds through perseverance, skill, and compassion.

Partnerships That Power Progress

Angara made it clear: this is not a one-agency mission. DepEd is working hand-in-hand with local government units, private educational institutions, and international development partners.

“Katuwang natin dito ang national government, mga LGU, development partners, at ang private education institutions,” he said, adding his gratitude to President Marcos for his “taos-pusong malasakit sa edukasyon.”

A Turning Point for Philippine Education

The increased subsidy, though long overdue, is a powerful signal of the country’s shifting priorities. It reaffirms that no teacher should feel less valued because they serve in private institutions. It recognizes that quality education is a shared endeavor—one that transcends the public-private divide.

As the Philippines inches toward genuine educational equity, this move stands as a beacon: a reminder that no educator should be left behind in the nation’s path toward progress.

In the words of Wazzup Pilipinas and every Filipino who believes in the power of education: This is not just a raise. It’s respect, restored.

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